Elbow joint support

Abstract

To provide an elbow joint supporter capable of stabilizing and protecting the elbow joint and surrounding areas against symptoms of the elbow joint and surrounding areas such as hyperextension, tennis elbow, and golf elbow.SOLUTION: An elbow joint supporter 1 includes: an upper anchor portion 10 made of a cylindrical fabric that can be tightened on the upper arm of the wearer and having the loop surface of a hook and loop fastener on the surface side of the fabric; a tightening portion 20 formed of a strip of fabric and having a lower anchor region 21 located on the back side of the wearer's forearm, a first taping region 22 extending from the lower anchor region 21 to one side, and a second taping region 23 extending from the lower anchor region 21 to the other side and crossing the first taping region 22 on the front side when worn; and a wearing aid 30 formed of a cylindrical fabric and adhered to the upper anchor portion 10 and the tightening portion 20 to integrate the upper anchor portion 10 and the tightening portion 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an elbow joint supporter that can stabilize and protect the elbow joint and surrounding areas from symptoms of the elbow joint and surrounding areas, such as hyperextension, tennis elbow, and golfer's elbow. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, strip-shaped taping tapes (elastic or non-elastic adhesive cloth tapes that are applied to any part of the body), bandages, and circularly knitted, roughly cylindrical supports have been used for medical purposes such as preventing injuries such as sprains of the wrist, ankle, or knee, providing first aid when such injuries are sustained, assisting rehabilitation from injury to full recovery, or preventing the recurrence of injuries.

[0003] Of these, taping tape is disposable and not economical, and depending on the user's constitution, the adhesive may cause a rash on the user's skin. In addition, there is a risk of skin peeling when removing the taping tape for users with sensitive skin, such as the elderly. Furthermore, circular knitted supports have the problem of being less able to immobilize the affected area than taping tapes.

[0004] In contrast, bandages are made by fixing one end of a longitudinally stretchable band to an anchor point and wrapping it around the affected area, making them easy to conform to the affected area, allowing the wearer to adjust the fixing force themselves while wrapping it around the area.They are superior in that they do not apply excessive force to the wearer's body movements, provide stable support and fixing force, and are economical because they can be used repeatedly.

[0005] For example, a conventional support that can be worn on an elbow joint comprises a support body made of elastic material and formed into a cylindrical shape, and two elastic belts, one end of which is fixed to one side and the other side of the outer peripheral surface of the support body in the longitudinal direction.The two elastic belts are stretched circumferentially around the support body against elastic force and then wrapped around the support body, thereby increasing the range over which the support force can be adjusted and allowing the support force to be adjusted as needed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-148014 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the supporter described in Patent Document 1 simply wraps both elastic belts in the same circumferential direction, and therefore has the problem of not being able to stabilize the elbow joint or the surrounding area against the long-standing problem of excessive extension (hyperextension) of the elbow joint in coordination with the shoulder joint, which is a movement perpendicular to the circumferential direction, or tennis elbow or golfer's elbow caused by rotation of the forearm.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an elbow joint supporter that can stabilize and protect the elbow joint and surrounding areas from symptoms of the elbow joint and surrounding areas, such as hyperextension, tennis elbow, and golfer's elbow. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The elbow joint support of the present invention comprises an upper anchor part formed of cylindrical fabric that can be fastened around the wearer's upper arm and has a hook-and-loop surface on the front side of the fabric; a tightening part formed of strip-shaped fabric and having a lower anchor region that is positioned on the back side of the wearer's forearm, a first taping region that extends to one side from the lower anchor region, and a second taping region that extends to the other side from the lower anchor region and intersects with the first taping region on the front side when worn; an attachment aid formed of cylindrical fabric that is fixed to the upper anchor part and the tightening part, integrating the upper anchor part and the tightening part; a first fastening part that is joined to the end of the first taping region and has a hook surface of the hook-and-loop fastener that can be attached and detached to the loop surface of the upper anchor part; and a second fastening part that is joined to the end of the second taping region and has a hook surface of the hook-and-loop fastener that can be attached and detached to the loop surface of the upper anchor part.

[0010] As described above, the present invention comprises a tightening section having an upper anchor part, a lower anchor region, a first taping region, and a second taping region that intersects with the first taping region on the front side when worn, as well as an attachment assisting section that integrates these together. Therefore, the elastic force acting between the first taping region and the second taping region, which are arranged in an X-shape between the upper anchor part and the lower anchor region, can suppress hyperextension that exceeds the range of motion of the elbow joint and stabilize the elbow joint. In addition, the first taping area, which extends from the lower part of the outside of the forearm (ulnar side) to the inside of the part corresponding to the humerus, and the second taping area, which extends from the lower part of the inside of the forearm (radial side) to the outside of the part corresponding to the humerus, moderately restrict the rotational movement that causes tennis elbow and golfer's elbow, thereby reducing the onset of pain caused by lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis.

[0011] The elbow joint support according to the present invention may, if necessary, have an upper anchor portion which has a loop portion having a hook-and-loop fastener loop surface in the circumferential direction, and an elastic portion sewn to both side ends of the loop portion and having a greater elasticity in the circumferential direction than the loop portion.

[0012] In this way, in the present invention, the upper anchor portion comprises a loop portion and an elastic portion which has a greater circumferential elasticity than the loop portion, and therefore the circumferential expansion of the elastic portion allows the upper anchor portion to be expanded radially, thereby enlarging the opening of the upper anchor portion, making it easier for each wearer to wear the elbow joint support while still functioning as an anchor to accommodate differences in upper arm thickness.

[0013] In the elbow joint support of the present invention, if necessary, the attachment aid has a bag-shaped portion at the part corresponding to the wearer's forearm, and the bag-shaped portion contains shock-absorbing material at a position corresponding to the lateral epicondyle and medial epicondyle of the wearer's humerus.

[0014] As described above, the present invention has a bag-like portion containing shock-absorbing material at a position corresponding to the lateral epicondyle and medial epicondyle of the wearer's humerus. When worn, the first and second taping areas press against the shock-absorbing material, compressing the forearm extensor muscles and allowing the shock to the elbow joint to be absorbed and dispersed by the shock-absorbing material, thereby better stabilizing and protecting the elbow joint and surrounding area.

[0015] In the elbow joint support according to the present invention, the tightening portions and the attachment assisting portions are sewn together along sewing lines that are parallel to the pulling directions of the first taping area and the second taping area, as required.

[0016] In this way, in the present invention, the tightening portion and the attachment aid portion are sewn to each other along sewing lines that are parallel to the pulling direction of the first taping area and the second taping area, respectively. This means that the tightening force from the first taping area and the second taping area can be applied along an X-shape without being unnecessarily dispersed, and the elbow joint and surrounding area can be stabilized and protected without placing unnecessary strain on the wearer.

[0017] In the elbow joint support according to the present invention, the wearing aid portion may have a notch portion for fixing the wearer's elbow, if necessary.

[0018] In this way, in the present invention, the attachment aid portion is provided with a cutout portion, which allows the wearer's elbow joint to be exposed, fixed, and positioned in the cutout portion, and in cooperation with the positioning achieved by fastening the upper anchor portion to the upper arm, the elbow joint support can be attached more stably in an appropriate position on the wearer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1A, 1B, and 1C are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of an elbow joint supporter according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a side view. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the range of motion of the elbow joint and forearm. [Figure 3] 2(a) is a schematic diagram showing the woven fabric of the loop surface in the upper anchor part shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2(a) is a schematic diagram showing the woven fabric of the loop surface in the tightening portion shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the lower end of the attachment aid part of the elbow joint supporter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a method of wearing the elbow joint supporter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the schematic configuration of an elbow joint supporter according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an elbow joint supporter according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of an elbow joint and a forearm. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a main part of the lower end of a fitting aid part in an elbow joint supporter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] (First embodiment of the present invention) An elbow joint supporter according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The same elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout this embodiment. In the following explanation, when the elbow joint is facing the ground, the elbow joint side will be referred to as the back side, the side opposite the elbow joint as the front side, the side toward the body as the inside, and the side opposite the body as the outside.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the elbow joint support 1 according to this embodiment comprises: an upper anchor part 10, which is woven from a fabric having a hook-and-loop surface on the fabric surface side and is cylindrical and has no bottom, and is fastened to the wearer's upper arm; a tightening part 20, which is woven from a strip-shaped fabric and has a lower anchor region 21 that is positioned on the back side of the wearer's forearm, a first taping region 22 that extends to one side from the lower anchor region 21, and a second taping region 23 that extends to the other side from the lower anchor region 21 and intersects with the first taping region 22 on the front side when worn; and a cylindrically woven attachment auxiliary part 30 that is fixed to the upper anchor part 10 and the tightening part 20, integrating the upper anchor part 10 and the tightening part 20. Methods for fixing the attachment auxiliary part 30 include sewing, hot melt, ultrasonic welding, and heat fusion, although sewing is preferred from the standpoint of manufacturability. The upper anchor part 10, the tightening part 20 and the wearing aid part 30 can also be configured as knitted fabrics, but in this specification, the case where they are woven fabrics will be described as an example.

[0022] The elbow joint support 1 is also equipped with a first fastening part 40 which is joined to the end of the first taping region 22, which is one end of the tightening part 20, and which has a hook surface of a hook-and-loop fastener that is detachable from the loop surface of the upper anchor part 10, and a second fastening part 41 which is joined to the end of the second taping region 23, which is the other end of the tightening part 20, and which has a hook surface of a hook-and-loop fastener that is detachable from the loop surface of the upper anchor part 10. Methods for joining the first fastening part 40 and the second fastening part 41 to the tightening part 20 include sewing, hot melt, ultrasonic welding, and heat fusion, but sewing is preferred from the standpoint of manufacturability.

[0023] Before describing in detail the configuration of the elbow joint supporter 1 according to this embodiment, the range of motion of the elbow joint, symptoms of pain, etc. will be described below.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2(a), elbow joint movements include extension (extending the elbow) and flexion (bending the elbow) in coordination with the shoulder joint. Forearm movements include rotational movements, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 2(c). Rotational movements include pronation, which rotates the palm from facing inward toward the body so that it faces downward, and supination, which rotates the palm away from the body so that it faces upward. The range of motion for each movement is 5 degrees of extension, 145 degrees of flexion, 90 degrees of pronation, and 90 degrees of supination.

[0025] Taking into account the range of motion of the elbow joint and other joints mentioned above, we will now explain the symptoms of pain seen in the elbow joint and surrounding areas.

[0026] First, there is pain when lifting heavy objects for a long time or when placing the hand on the ground with the elbow joint extended. The cause of pain when placing the hand on the ground with the elbow joint extended is excessive extension of the elbow beyond its range of motion (hereinafter referred to as hyperextension), resulting in damage (sprain) to the collateral ligaments of the elbow joint. The elbow joint has three ligaments: the medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament, and radial annular ligament. Of these, the medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament reinforce the inside and outside of the elbow joint, stabilizing it. However, damage to these collateral ligaments can cause pain due to hyperextension.

[0027] Second, pain on the outside of the elbow (thumb side) that occurs when lifting an object, twisting a doorknob, wringing a towel, or playing a backhand in tennis (tennis elbow). Third, pain on the inside of the elbow (little finger side) that occurs when bending or twisting the wrist, playing a forehand in tennis, or swinging a golf club improperly (golfer's elbow). Tennis elbow pain is caused by inflammation of the lateral epicondyle, a protruding part on the outside of the lower part of the humerus. Golfer's elbow pain is caused by inflammation of the medial epicondyle, a protruding part on the inside of the lower part of the humerus. As mentioned above, twisting of the forearm is one of the causes of pain in tennis elbow and golfer's elbow.

[0028] The elbow joint supporter 1 according to this embodiment stabilizes and protects the elbow joint and surrounding area from pain caused by the above-mentioned hyperextension, tennis elbow, and golfer's elbow.

[0029] Next, the configuration of the elbow joint support 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0030] The first fastening part 40 has a planar shape that combines a rectangle and an isosceles trapezoid, with the rectangular part 40a sewn to one surface (the lining surface) of the tightening part 20 and the isosceles trapezoid part 40b protruding from one end of the tightening part 20. Similarly, the second fastening part 41 has a planar shape that combines a rectangle and an isosceles trapezoid, with the rectangular part 41a sewn to one surface (the lining surface) of the tightening part 20 and the isosceles trapezoid part 41b protruding from the other end of the tightening part 20. In this way, the isosceles trapezoidal portion 40b (isosceles trapezoidal portion 41b) of the first attachment portion 40 (second attachment portion 41) protrudes from one end of the tightening portion 20 (the other end of the tightening portion 20), making it thinner by the amount that does not overlap with the tightening portion 20, making it easier to grasp the isosceles trapezoidal portion 40b (isosceles trapezoidal portion 41b) with the wearer's fingers, and allowing the hook surface of the first attachment portion 40 (hook surface of the second attachment portion 41) to be easily attached and detached from the loop surface of the upper anchor portion 10.

[0031] The elbow joint support 1 is ambidextrous and can be worn on the elbow joint of either the left or right arm of the wearer.

[0032] The upper anchor part 10 is cylindrical and has no bottom, and is woven by combining warp threads 50 and weft threads 51 on a power loom such as a needle loom or a jacquard needle loom, and is made of a stretchable fabric that has stretchability in the warp direction (circumferential direction, around the wearer's upper arm) and reduced stretchability in the weft direction (width direction).

[0033] The upper anchor portion 10 is fastened to the wearer's upper arm, thereby positioning the elbow joint support 1 relative to the wearer's elbow joint, and also serves as an upper anchor for the tightening portion 20 that is engaged with the upper anchor portion 10.

[0034] The tightening portion 20 is belt-shaped and is woven by combining warp threads 50 and weft threads 51 on a power loom such as a needle loom or a jacquard needle loom, and like the upper anchor portion 10, is made of a stretchable fabric that has stretchability in the warp direction (longitudinal direction, around the wearer's forearm) and reduced stretchability in the weft direction (width direction).

[0035] The width of the tightening parts 20 is preferably 2 to 8 cm, and more preferably 4 to 6 cm. By making the width of the tightening parts 20 2 to 8 cm, it becomes easier to wrap the tightening parts 20 around the wearer's forearm and upper arm, and sufficient immobilization force for the elbow joint can be obtained.

[0036] The tightening portion 20 comprises a lower anchor region 21 that is placed on the back side of the wearer's forearm, a first taping region 22 that extends to one side from the lower anchor region 21, and a second taping region 23 that extends to the other side from the lower anchor region 21 and intersects with the first taping region 22 on the front side when worn. The lower anchor region 21, first taping region 22, and second taping region 23 are arranged in a straight line and have the same width.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the warp yarns 50 of the upper anchor part 10 include warp ground yarns 50a that form one side of the fabric together with the weft yarns 51, pile yarns 50b that float above multiple adjacent weft yarns 51 in the warp direction to form loops on the other side of the fabric, and elastic yarns 50c that impart stretchability in the warp direction. Hereinafter, the surface of the upper anchor part 10 that has the loop surface will be referred to as the "front surface" and its back surface will be referred to as the "back surface".

[0038] The warp yarns 50a may be made of fibers such as polyester or nylon, the pile yarns 50b may be made of fibers such as polyester or nylon, and the elastic yarns 50c may be made of fibers such as polyurethane.

[0039] The weft thread 51 comprises a weft thread 51a which forms the back surface of the fabric together with the warp thread 50a, and a fusion thread 51b having thermal fusion properties which is arranged in parallel to the weft thread 51a, and is formed as one weft thread 51 by arranging one weft thread 51a and one fusion thread 51b in parallel. In Fig. 3, one weft yarn 51a and one fusion yarn 51b are illustrated as one weft yarn 51. In Fig. 3(b), the upper side of the parallel weft yarn 51 is the front surface, and the lower side is the back surface.

[0040] Fibers such as polyester and nylon can be used for the weft material 51a, and fibers such as polyester and nylon can be used for the weft material 51b.

[0041] Next, an example of the weave of the upper anchor part 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0042] The warp yarn 50a forming the loop surface floats above one weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a, fused yarn 51b) and sinks below three adjacent weft yarns 51 (weft yarn 51a, fused yarn 51b), repeating 1-3 crossing floating and sinking with the weft yarns 51 (weft yarn 51a, fused yarn 51b) to form a woven fabric. In addition, the pile yarns 50b forming the loop surface float above the six adjacent weft yarns 51 (weft yarns 51a, fused yarns 51b), sink below the two adjacent weft yarns 51 (weft yarns 51a, fused yarns 51b), float above the two adjacent weft yarns 51 (weft yarns 51a, fused yarns 51b), and sink below the two adjacent weft yarns 51 (weft yarns 51a, fused yarns 51b), repeating this 6-2-2-2 crossing floating and sinking with the weft yarns 51 (weft yarns 51a, fused yarns 51b) to form a woven fabric. In addition, the elastic yarn 50c forming the loop surface floats above one weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a, fused yarn 51b) and sinks below one weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a, fused yarn 51b), repeating a 1-1 crossing floating and sinking with the weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a, fused yarn 51b) to form a woven fabric. The weave of the warp yarns 50a, pile yarns 50b, and elastic yarns 50c shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the weave is not limited to this as long as it can have loops (loop surface) on the front surface.

[0043] In the knitting yarn of the upper anchor portion 10, instead of the pile yarn 50b that constitutes the warp yarn 50, the tightening portion 20 uses a warp yarn 50a (hereinafter referred to as the second warp yarn 50d) that crosses and sinks with the weft yarn 51 in the opposite manner to the aforementioned warp yarn 50a (hereinafter referred to as the "first warp yarn 50a").

[0044] That is, as shown in Figure 4, the warp yarn 50 comprises a first warp ground yarn 50a which, together with the weft yarn 51, forms one side of the fabric (e.g., the lining surface), an elastic yarn 50c which provides stretchability in the warp direction, and a second warp ground yarn 50d which, together with the weft yarn 51, forms the other side of the fabric (e.g., the front surface). The weft yarns 51 also include weft yarns 51a which, together with the first warp yarns 50a, form the back surface of the fabric. In FIG. 4(b), the upper side of the parallel weft yarns 51 is the front surface, and the lower side is the back surface.

[0045] Next, an example of the fabric design of the tightening portions 20 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0046] The first warp yarn 50a floats above one weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a) and sinks below three adjacent weft yarns 51 (weft yarn 51a), repeating 1-3 crossings with the weft yarns 51 (weft yarn 51a) to form a woven fabric. In addition, the elastic yarn 50c floats above one weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a) and sinks below one weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a), repeating a 1-1 crossing floating and sinking with the weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a) to form a woven fabric. In addition, the second warp yarn 50d floats above three adjacent weft yarns 51 (weft yarns 51a) and sinks below one weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a), repeating a 3-1 crossing floating and sinking with the weft yarn 51 (weft yarn 51a) to form a fabric structure. The weave structure of the first warp yarns 50a, the elastic yarns 50c, and the second warp yarns 50d shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and the weave structure is not limited to this.

[0047] In addition, by using a jacquard needle loom, the upper anchor portion 10 (or tightening portion 20) floats the warp ground threads 50a (or first warp ground threads 50a) of the warp threads 50 on the outer surface side relative to multiple weft threads 51 adjacent in the warp direction, and sinks the pile threads 50b (or second warp ground threads 50d) of the warp threads 50 on the inner surface side, thereby partially forming a pattern consisting of letters, figures, symbols, or a combination of these on the outer surface with a freely opening jacquard weave. In this case, the upper anchor part 10 has loops (loop surface) on almost the entire surface of the front surface except for the patterned area. Also, if no pattern is formed, the upper anchor part 10 and the tightening part 20 are woven by a needle loom.

[0048] In addition, the upper anchor portion 10 and the tightening portion 20 can freely adjust the maximum elongation in the warp direction by changing the material of the warp threads 50 and weft threads 51 (especially the thickness of the elastic threads 50c and weft threads 51a) and the number of times (number) the weft threads 51 are sewn. Here, maximum elongation refers to "preparing a test piece 7.0 cm wide, gripping the entire width in the width direction, setting it in a tensile testing machine (Shimadzu Corporation, EZ-TEST EZ-L), marking it at 10 cm intervals (L0), applying a load of 54.4 N, and holding it for 1 minute. The length between the marks (L1) is then divided by L0."

[0049] The maximum elongation of the tightening portion 20 in the warp direction is preferably 1.1 to 5, more preferably 1.5 to 3, and even more preferably 1.7 to 2. Furthermore, the maximum elongation in the warp direction of the upper anchor part 10 is preferably greater than the maximum elongation in the warp direction of the tightening part 20, and is more preferably between 1.3 and 6, even more preferably between 1.7 and 4, and even more preferably within the range of between 2 and 2.4.

[0050] In this way, the elbow joint support 1 has a maximum elongation in the warp direction of the upper anchor part 10 that is greater than the maximum elongation in the warp direction of the tightening part 20, so it is possible to suppress the tightening force applied to the wearer's upper arm by the upper anchor part 10 (without causing discomfort to the wearer due to obstruction of blood flow in the upper arm), while using the tightening force of the tightening part 20 to fixate the elbow joint, improving the stability of the elbow joint and reducing the burden on the elbow joint.

[0051] If the tightening parts 20 are too thick, they will be bulky and difficult to wrap around the wearer's forearm and upper arm, and if they are too thin, the fabric of the tightening parts 20 itself will be prone to breaking and the desired fixing force will not be obtained. For this reason, the thickness of the tightening parts 20 is preferably set to a thickness that makes it easy to wrap the tightening parts 20 around the upper arm and forearm and that allows the desired fixing force to be obtained, for example, it is preferable to set it to 3 mm or less, more preferably to set it to 1 to 2 mm, and even more preferably to set it to 1.3 to 1.7 mm.

[0052] Furthermore, if the upper anchor part 10 is too thick, it will be bulky and difficult to wrap when fastening the upper anchor part 10 around the wearer's upper arm, and if it is too thin, the fabric of the upper anchor part 10 itself will be prone to breaking and the desired fastening force will not be obtained. For this reason, the thickness of the upper anchor part 10 is preferably set to a thickness that makes it easy to fasten the upper anchor part 10 around the wearer's upper arm and that allows the desired fastening force to be obtained, and is preferably set to, for example, 4 mm or less, more preferably 1 to 3 mm, and even more preferably 1.3 to 1.7 mm.

[0053] The size of the upper anchor part 10 in the width direction is preferably 4 to 12 cm, more preferably 5 to 11 cm, and even more preferably 6 to 9 cm.

[0054] The attachment aid part 30 is a substantially bottomless cylinder with a notched portion 31 cut out in a substantially semicircular shape from the top end, and is made of a stretchable fabric that is woven by combining warp and weft threads on a power loom such as a needle loom or a jacquard needle loom, and has stretchability in both the warp and weft directions. The warp yarns comprise first warp yarns which together with the weft yarns form one side of the fabric (e.g., the lining surface), elastic yarns which provide stretchability in the warp direction, and second warp yarns which together with the weft yarns form the other side of the fabric (e.g., the front surface). The weft yarns include weft yarns that form the back surface of the fabric together with the first warp yarns, and elastic yarns that provide stretchability in the warp direction.

[0055] The wearing aid part 30 positions the elbow joint support 1 relative to the elbow joint by aligning the notched part 31 with the elbow joint of the wearer. The size of the cutout portion 31 is preferably 0.01 to 0.5, more preferably 0.05 to 0.2, and even more preferably 0.08 to 0.1, when the total area of ​​the attachment assisting portion 30 is 1. In this way, since the attachment auxiliary part 30 is provided with the cutout part 31, the wearer's elbow joint can be exposed, fixed and positioned at the cutout part 31, and in cooperation with the positioning achieved by fastening the upper anchor part 10 to the upper arm, the elbow joint support 1 can be attached more stably in an appropriate position on the wearer.

[0056] The upper end of the attachment assisting part 30 is sewn to the upper end of the upper anchor part 10, and the lower end of the attachment assisting part 30 is sewn to the lower end of the tightening part 20, thereby integrating the upper anchor part 10 and the tightening part 20 together. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower ends of the attachment assisting parts 30 are parallel (including coincident) with the tightening parts 20, and are sewn together along sewing lines 60 that are parallel to these lower ends.

[0057] Next, a method for wearing the elbow joint support 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 6. The following description will be given taking as an example a case where the elbow joint support 1 is worn on the wearer's right elbow.

[0058] As shown in Figure 6(a), the wearer grasps the upper anchor part 10 with their left hand and pulls it up to their right upper arm. At this time, the upper anchor part 10 is pulled up through the notch 31 of the wearing aid part 30 to a position where the elbow joint of the wearer's right hand is exposed, and the elbow joint support 1 is positioned in an appropriate position on the wearer's right arm.

[0059] After positioning the upper anchor part 10 and the attachment assisting part 30, the wearer grasps one end of the tightening part 20 (first taping area 22) with their left hand and pulls the first taping area 22, as shown in Figure 6(b), extending the first taping area 22 from below the outside of the forearm (ulna side), through the front side area opposite the elbow joint, and to the inside of the part corresponding to the humerus. Then, the wearer attaches the hook surface of the first fastening part 40 fixed to one end of the tightening part 20 to the loop surface of the upper anchor part 10.

[0060] Next, as shown in Figures 6(c) and 6(d), the wearer grasps the other end of the tightening portion 20 (second taping region 23) with their left hand and pulls the second taping region 23, extending the second taping region 23 from the lower inside (radius side) of the forearm, through the front side opposite the elbow joint, to the outside of the part corresponding to the humerus. At this time, the second taping region 23 intersects with the first taping region 22 in an X-shape. In the example shown in Figure 6(c), the first taping region and the second taping region 23 intersect in an X-shape near the antecubital fossa. The wearer then attaches the hook surface of the second attaching part 41 fixed to the other end of the tightening part 20 to the loop surface of the upper anchor part 10, thereby completing the wearing of the elbow joint support 1.

[0061] As described above, the garment comprises the upper anchor part 10, the tightening part 20 having the lower anchor region 21, the first taping region 22, and the second taping region 23 that intersects with the first taping region 22 on the front side when worn, and the attachment auxiliary part 30 that integrates these together.As a result, the elastic force acting between the first taping region 22 and the second taping region 23, which are arranged in an X-shape between the upper anchor part 10 and the lower anchor region 21, can suppress hyperextension that exceeds the range of motion of the elbow joint, and stabilize the elbow joint. In addition, the first taping area 22, which extends from the lower part of the outer side of the forearm (ulna side) to the inside of the part corresponding to the humerus, and the second taping area 23, which extends from the lower part of the inner side of the forearm (radius side) to the outside of the part corresponding to the humerus, moderately restrict the rotational movement that causes tennis elbow and golfer's elbow, thereby reducing the onset of pain due to lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis.

[0062] (Second embodiment of the present invention) In the elbow joint support according to the first embodiment, the upper arm anchor portion is configured as a bottomless cylinder woven from a fabric having a hook-and-loop surface, but it is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 7, it can also be configured to have a loop portion in the circumferential direction having a loop surface of a hook-and-loop fastener, and an elastic portion with a circumferential elasticity greater than that of the loop portion.

[0063] The upper anchor portion 70 is formed in a bottomless cylindrical shape and comprises a loop portion 71 woven from a fabric having a loop surface of a hook-and-loop fastener, and an elastic portion 72 sewn to both side ends of the loop portion 71 and woven from a fabric having a greater circumferential elasticity than the loop portion 71.

[0064] The stretch ratio of the loop portion 71 is preferably 1.1 to 4 times, and more preferably 1.5 to 3 times. The stretch ratio of the stretchable portion 72 is preferably 1.5 to 6 times, and more preferably 2 to 4 times. Here, the stretch rate refers to "preparing a test piece 7.0 cm wide, gripping the entire width in the width direction, setting it in a tensile testing machine (Shimadzu Corporation, EZ-TEST EZ-L), marking it at 5 cm intervals (L0), applying a load of 54.4 N, and holding it for 1 minute. The length between the marks (L1) is then divided by L0." As described above, by setting the stretch rate of the stretchable portion 72 to 1.5 to 6 times, the circumferential stretch of the stretchable portion 72 can expand the upper anchor portion 10 radially, thereby enlarging the opening of the upper anchor portion 10, making it easier for each wearer to wear the elbow joint support 1 while still functioning as an anchor to accommodate differences in upper arm thickness.

[0065] Furthermore, the stretch rate of the stretchable portion 72 is preferably 1.1 to 3, and more preferably 1.3 to 2, assuming that the stretch rate of the loop portion 71 is 1.

[0066] The size of the stretchable portion 72 in the circumferential direction is preferably 0.2 to 0.6, and more preferably 0.3 to 0.5, assuming that the total circumferential length of the upper anchor portion 10 is 1.

[0067] In FIG. 7, the stretchable portion 72 is positioned on the front side of the upper arm, but this is not limiting as long as it does not interfere with the immobilization of the elbow joint by the X-shaped intersection of the first taping region 22 and the second taping region 23, and it can also be positioned, for example, on the back side of the upper arm.

[0068] In this way, since the upper anchor portion 70 comprises a loop portion 71 and an elastic portion 72 which has a greater circumferential elasticity than the loop portion 71, the circumferential expansion of the elastic portion 72 can expand the upper anchor portion 70 radially to enlarge the opening of the upper anchor portion 70, making it easier for each wearer to wear the elbow joint support 1 while still functioning as an anchor to accommodate differences in upper arm thickness.

[0069] (Third embodiment of the present invention) In the elbow joint supports according to the first and second embodiments, the attachment aid portion is configured as a substantially bottomless cylinder with a notched portion cut out in a substantially semicircular shape from the top end, but this is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 8, it is also possible to configure the attachment aid portion with a notched portion and a bag-shaped portion on the forearm side, with the shock absorbing material contained within and fixed in this bag-shaped portion.

[0070] The wearing assistance part 80 is formed from a longer woven fabric than the wearing assistance part 30 in the first and second embodiments, and the lower end is folded over to form a bag-shaped part 81 in the part corresponding to the wearer's forearm. The bag-shaped portion 81 contains a pair of left and right shock absorbing materials 82 and is sewn to the attachment assisting portion 80.

[0071] The shock absorbing material 82 is positioned at a position corresponding to the medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle of the humerus, and is positioned so as to overlap with the extended first taping area 22 and second taping area 23 when the wearer puts on the elbow joint support 1. The lateral epicondyle and medial epicondyle are protruding parts of the lower part of the humerus. For example, the lateral epicondyle is the part where the extensor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum communis muscles are attached in an overlapping manner, as shown in Figure 9. When the elbow joint support 1 is worn, the shock absorbing material 82 is pressed by the first taping region 22 and the second taping region 23, thereby compressing the forearm extensor muscles such as the extensor carpi radialis.

[0072] The shape of the impact absorbing material 82 is not particularly limited, but may be a substantially rectangular or elliptical shape. The shock absorbing material 82 may be contained in only one of the left and right sides.

[0073] The size of the impact absorbing material 82 is preferably 0.01 to 0.1, more preferably 0.02 to 0.07, and even more preferably 0.03 to 0.05, assuming that the total area of ​​the mounting auxiliary part 30 is 1. The size (actual dimensions) of the impact absorbing material 82, when it is substantially rectangular, is preferably 1 to 10 cm wide (circumferential direction) x 1 to 10 cm long (direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction), more preferably 2 to 6 cm wide x 2 to 6 cm long, and even more preferably 3 to 5 cm wide x 3 to 5 cm long. Also, when the impact absorbing material 82 is substantially oval, it is preferably 2 to 11 cm long x 1 to 10 cm short, more preferably 3 to 7 cm long x 2 to 6 cm long, and even more preferably 4 to 6 cm long x 3 to 5 cm long.

[0074] The thickness of the impact absorbing material 82 is preferably 0.5 to 10 mm, more preferably 1 to 7 mm, and even more preferably 3 to 5 mm.

[0075] The apparent density of the impact absorbing material 82 is 50 to 160 g / m 3 is preferred, and 70 to 110 g / m 3 is more preferred.

[0076] The 25% compression stress of the impact absorbing material 82 is preferably 30 to 240 kPa, and more preferably 90 to 110 kPa. By setting the 25% compression stress of the impact absorbing material 82 to 30 to 240 kPa, it is possible to easily absorb and disperse the impact on the elbow joint. Here, the stress at 25% compression can be measured based on JIS K 6767:1999.

[0077] The shock absorbing material 82 may be made of polyethylene, nylon, polyurethane, or other materials, but from the standpoint of absorbing and dispersing the shock to the elbow joint, it is particularly preferable to use polyethylene.

[0078] In this way, the pouch-shaped portion 81 containing the shock-absorbing material 82 is provided at a position corresponding to the lateral epicondyle and medial epicondyle of the wearer's humerus. When worn, the shock-absorbing material 82 is pressed by the first taping region 22 and the second taping region 23, thereby compressing the forearm extensor muscles and allowing the shock-absorbing material 82 to absorb and disperse the impact on the elbow joint, thereby better stabilizing and protecting the elbow joint and surrounding areas.

[0079] (Fourth embodiment of the present invention) In the elbow joint supports according to the first to third embodiments, the tightening portion (lower anchor region) and the attachment auxiliary portion are configured to be sewn together with a sewing line parallel to the lower end of the tightening portion, but this is not limited to this, and as shown in Figure 10, the tightening portion (lower anchor region) and the attachment auxiliary portion can also be configured to be sewn together with a sewing line parallel to the pulling direction of the first taping region and the second taping region.

[0080] As shown in Figure 10(a), the tightening portion 20 is sewn to the lower end of the attachment auxiliary portion 30 at its lower anchor region 21 by a sewing line 90 parallel to the pulling direction of the first taping region 22 and a sewing line 91 parallel to the pulling direction of the second taping region 23. In Figure 10(a), the suture lines 90, 91 are arranged in a V-shape that opens toward the upper arm, but the suture lines 90, 91 do not necessarily have to be connected and may be in a V-shape that opens toward the upper arm. Furthermore, the lower end of the wearing auxiliary parts 30 is parallel to the lower end of the tightening parts 20, but as shown in Figure 10(b), the lower end of the wearing auxiliary parts 30 may be bent along the sewing lines 90, 91 and sewn to the tightening parts 20. This means that there is no wearing auxiliary part 30 that is not fixed below the sewing lines 92, 93, and the fabric will not turn up when putting on or using the garment, so there is no discomfort to the wearer.

[0081] There are no particular restrictions on the angle θ formed between the sewing lines 90 to 93 and the tightening portion 20, but when the tightening portion 20 is pulled toward one end or the other, the closer the angle θ is to 180°, the more force will be exerted in the circumferential direction of the upper anchor portion 10, causing the upper anchor portion 10 to rotate, and the closer the angle θ is to 90°, the more force will be exerted in the width direction of the tightening portion 20, causing the lower anchor region 21 to slide up toward the upper arm. Therefore, the range of the angle θ is preferably set to less than 40°, more preferably set to between 5° and 30°, and even more preferably set to between 10° and 20°, so that when the tightening portion 20 is pulled toward one end or the other, the upper anchor portion 10 does not lift, the lower anchor region 21 is prevented from sliding up, and the first taping region 22 and the second taping region 23 can be pulled diagonally upward relative to the upper anchor portion 10 without twisting the vicinity of the lower end of the lower anchor region 21, taking into consideration ease of use of the elbow joint support 1.

[0082] In this way, the tightening portion 20 and the wearing auxiliary portion 30 are sewn together along sewing lines 90 to 93 that are parallel to the pulling direction of the first taping region 22 and the second taping region 23, respectively. This means that the tightening force of the first taping region 22 and the second taping region 23 can be applied along an X-shape without being unnecessarily dispersed, and the elbow joint and surrounding areas can be stabilized and protected without placing unnecessary strain on the wearer.

[0083] The above-described embodiments can be used in appropriate combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 Elbow joint support 10 Upper anchor part 20 Tightening section 21 Lower anchor region 22 First taping area 23 Second taping area 30 Mounting aid 31 Notched part 40 First Attachment 40a rectangular part 40b Isosceles trapezoid part 41 Second attachment point 41a Rectangular part 41b Isosceles trapezoid part 50 warp threads 50a warp thread (first warp thread) 50b pile yarn 50c elastic thread 50d 2nd warp thread 51 Weft 51a Weft thread 51b Fusible thread 60 Suture line 70 Upper anchor part 71 Loop section 72 Telescopic part 80 Mounting aid 81 Bag-like part 82 Shock absorber 90, 91, 92, 93 Suture lines

Claims

1. An upper anchor portion formed of a cylindrical fabric that can be fastened around the wearer's upper arm and has a hook-and-loop fastener surface on the surface side of the fabric; a tightening portion formed of a strip-shaped fabric and having a lower anchor region that is placed on the back side of the wearer's forearm, a first taping region that extends to one side from the lower anchor region, and a second taping region that extends to the other side from the lower anchor region and intersects with the first taping region on the front side when worn; a mounting auxiliary part formed of a cylindrical fabric and fixed to the upper anchor part and the tightening part to integrate the upper anchor part and the tightening part; a first fastening portion joined to an end of the first taping region and having a hook surface of a hook-and-loop fastener detachably attached to a loop surface of the upper anchor portion; a second fastening portion joined to an end of the second taping region and having a hook surface of a hook-and-loop fastener detachable to a loop surface of the upper anchor portion; A distinctive elbow joint support.

2. The elbow joint support according to claim 1, The upper anchor part has a loop part having a loop surface of a hook-and-loop fastener in the circumferential direction, and an elastic part sewn to both side ends of the loop part and having a larger elasticity in the circumferential direction than the loop part. A distinctive elbow joint support.

3. The elbow joint support according to claim 1 or 2, the wearing aid portion has a bag-shaped portion at a portion corresponding to the wearer's forearm, The bag-like portion contains shock absorbing materials at positions corresponding to the lateral epicondyle and medial epicondyle of the wearer's humerus. A distinctive elbow joint support.

4. The elbow joint support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The tightening portion and the attachment assisting portion are sewn together along sewing lines parallel to the pulling directions of the first taping area and the second taping area, respectively. A distinctive elbow joint support.

5. The elbow joint support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The wearing aid part has a notch for fixing the wearer's elbow. A distinctive elbow joint support.

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